Hello everyone. It’s been over a month since we were discharged from Craig Hospital and it is way past time to do an update. After lots of tearful goodbyes to our Craig family, we took a medical flight back to Phoenix and arrived by ambulance back home. It was nice to be back in the 77 degree weather!
During that first week home, we had a drive thru welcome home parade and WOW! Over 70 friends drove by to say hi and it was so awesome! Here’s a fun video that Hannah put together to remember the day
To be honest, it’s been overwhelming, exhausting, time consuming and back breaking. But in the same breath we would do nothing less for Seth or anyone else in our family. A friend mentioned that we replaced a whole team of people that have been taking care of him since 4/3/25, so that put things in perspective. Seth apologizes a lot that we have to take care of him but we quickly respond by saying that’s why God made parents: to take care of their kids.
Christmas was intentionally quiet which made it more meaningful. The tree and outside decorations were put up by family and friends before we got home. People brought food and sent thoughtful cards and gifts. We took Seth to Christmas Eve service. When Luke 2:19 was read, Mary pondered these things in her heart, I had an instant flashback of our 9 months of uncertainty and hope and I wondered to myself, is this what it feels like to ponder? To have a heart that is heavy and happy at the same time? To continue to feel like “Here we are after all that has happened and we still need God to help us each day?”
Life at home looks different now. Seth sleeps in our family room because it’s a lot of work to get him upstairs in his own bedroom. We have medical equipment and supplies throughout the house and it takes us much longer to get ready for the day and out the door for therapies or doctor appointments. But he makes us proud by working so hard in PT/OT which are helping him make progress in moving his arms and legs and increasing his core strength. Next week speech and neuropsychology are added to the mix.
That being said, he is still in a lot of pain in his neck, back, arms, legs, fingers, shoulders (basically everywhere) and has cognitive issues with short term memory loss. Your prayers are still appreciated about those. His Baclofen pump was increased 5% to help with the spasticity of his left leg. We’ve started acupuncture and massage therapy. Visits from friends and family take his mind off of things, so don’t hesitate to ask for a time to stop by (for those that are waiting for me to let them know, I promise I’ll get back to you).
For all the prayer warriors out there, please add Lucas to your prayers. His mom gave me permission to share that he was in a motorcycle accident in October a few miles from where Seth’s was and underwent 8 surgeries and suffered a brain injury. Although Seth and Lucas’ injuries are different and their recovery will be different, the thing they have in common is that they were at the same ICU, LTAC and Lucas is now at Craig Hospital on the same floor and wing that Seth was! And, what I understand is that he is being followed by the same team too! So, for those that are following this update that took care of both of them, thank you!!! You are amazing and we love you! God’s got you, Lucas!
Thank you again to those that check up on us and keep encouraging us. It means more than you know.
~Darcy
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